Refractions, the high school’s literary magazine, is planning to start an online magazine at the end of the school year in addition to publishing its print issues.

According to Refractions staff member junior Noa Goihberg, in April the group discussed the possibility of online-only features in addition to the print magazine, as well as the decision to release one issue this year instead of the planned two.

“There was just no point of releasing two issues very close together,” she said. “[We discussed] how for next year we can cultivate more interest, have it be a bigger thing at school, because I think it’s a wonderful thing.”

The benefits of releasing some content online include greater accessibility and the potential to widen the audience beyond the school community, according to Goihberg. Refractions staff member junior Daria Rassoulian said that displaying content online would be eco-friendly and would allow for greater flexibility in the timing of submissions.

“We’re moving into more of a digital era, and more things are online,” Rassoulian said. “Getting the word out, not just by word of mouth but online, would really help.”

However, both Goihberg and English teacher and Refractions adviser Robert Primmer said there are definite benefits of publishing print issues of the magazine.

“I think there is something in having whatever you’re reading in your hand and having it be physically with you,” Goihberg said.

According to Primmer, it is unlikely that the club will stop publishing print magazines because of the addition of the website.

“I think we’ll always want to have a print copy,” he said. “It’s nice to feel its glossy pages and bright art, and it’s nice when you’re holding it rather than simply scrolling through it. I think that there’s a persistence in the material that lasts when it’s bound and confined—‘This is what we did in 2014’ rather than ‘Here’s what we added, here’s what we added again.’ There’s a permanence in it.”

Kendall McGowan also contributed reporting to this article

Emmanuel D’Agostino can be contacted at [email protected]